The most
appropriate devotional practice begins with a triple prostration
before the Buddha image. The triple prostration ensures the
understanding and conviction of one's sincerity. It is a formal
act of deep commitment to any honest and mindful deed. While
prostrating one should collect one's attention and bring it
to bear upon the reaffirmation of one's faith in the Buddha,
the Dhamma and the Sangha.

This act
of prostration is called "five-point prostration",
because in this position both hands are placed together in front
of the body with the thumbs and fingertips touching and slightly
cupped at the palms. This is simply a form of respectful salutation
used frequently as a greeting for monks or nuns and also for
saluting parents and other elders. Holding hands in this position
one should kneel down - the lower part of the legs under the
thighs and the feet under the buttocks. Although there is no
standard way of placing the hands down on the floor, we recommend
that the palms be faced up or down and the hands separated,
leaving enough room for the forehead to touch the ground. The
forearms up to the elbows should be on the ground with the elbows
touching the knees. Thus the body is resting on the ground at
five points: the forehead, forearms, and lower legs. Following
this the upper part of the body is raised and the hands rejoined
in "anjali." The full prostration should be done three
times altogether.

The three
prostrations are done in order to express reverence to the Triple
Gem and to inspire a posture of devotion, modesty, and openness.
It also brings the additional benefit of curbing pride and arrogance.
Those who are humble open themselves to the guidance of others
and thus become capable of learning and growing. Reverence and
humility are considered to be blessings in Buddhism because
with these two qualities one can lower one's head which is the
topmost part of one's body holding the brain and the main sense
organs. By bowing down before the image of the supremely enlightened
Buddha one prepares oneself to accept his teaching and guidance
leading up to the attainment of enlightenment.